Roy prepared for second consecutive virtual development camp

WINNIPEG - Like many people over the last 18 months or so, Jimmy Roy had to find a way to adapt his approach during the pandemic.
As the director of player development for the Winnipeg Jets, Roy - along with colleague Mike Keane - spent a lot of time on Zoom and FaceTime fostering relationships with the prospects in the Jets system.
It's something they would normally do in person.
"Development isn't going to stop," said Roy, who is hopeful he can get back into arenas sooner than later.
"I can't wait to get back to the normalcy that everyone is talking about, get out to see these players and see the coaches, GMs, junior teams, and colleges, and just see some hockey," he said. "I'm looking forward to it, and I think my family is looking forward to getting me out of the house too."

For now, though, his family will have him hanging around the house a little bit longer.
But for a big chunk of this week, Roy will be in front of a computer, as the Jets host their second consecutive virtual development camp.
Usually, the week-long camp is held at Bell MTS Iceplex, as prospects in the organization go through on-ice sessions, off-ice workouts, and seminars to assist them in learning what it takes to be a professional athlete. It's often one of the first touch points new prospects - like Chaz Lucius, Nikita Chibrikov, Dmitri Kuzmin, and Dmitri Rashevsky - have with the organization, given the immediate beginning of the camp after the draft.
Everything but the on-ice part of things, which is on hiatus for another year, will take place in the virtual version of the camp.
There are media and social media presentations, nutrition and wellness seminars, and an important session on mental health.
"We do a day on mental wellness, making sure you can be in the right frame of mind to be a professional athlete at a young age and what you're going to experience as a pro," said Roy, who is excited to have a couple special guests at this year's camp.
"We'll be able to have Paul (Maurice) and Kevin (Cheveldayoff) on," said Roy. "Last year, the only time we could do it was during training camp and it was difficult to get our NHL personnel involved."
In the two development camps prior to the pandemic, Maurice and his coaching staff have taken an active role in the on-ice sessions.
The Jets head coach felt it was an opportunity for the staff to work with the prospects on the skills required to play within the Jets' system. On top of that, new prospects get to meet with the staff so, when training camp rolls around, they're seeing familiar faces.
On the final day of the 2021 development camp, Roy and Keane will do most of the talking.
The focus on that day is about the "ladder of development," as Roy calls it. Rarely is development a straight line and it usually never goes according a plan.
Take Cole Perfetti, the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, for example.
In a normal season, Perfetti would have went to Jets development camp shortly after the draft in June, skated for a week, then likely went to Jets training camp in the fall before returning to Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League for the 2020-21 campaign.
Of course, that's not how the season went for the Whitby, ON product.
He won a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Juniors, skated in Jets training camp, and played in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose - something he couldn't have done if the OHL season had started.
Perfetti made the most of his time with the Moose, putting up 26 points in 32 games before joining Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Latvia.
He helped Canada to a gold medal there, scoring twice in 10 games.
The first thing Roy said to Perfetti after that crazy season? Get some rest.
"I've talked to him a few times since the season has been over about his training schedule, what his plans are for the summer, and what our plans are for our virtual development camp," said Roy, adding that the Jets were fortunate that the majority of the organization's prospects got to play hockey this past season.
"With the exception of the two players injured in Sweden - what a time to be injured, I guess, you couldn't play always - so with the exception of that," said Roy, referencing 2020 draft picks Daniel Torgersson and Anton Johannesson.
"It was a good opportunity for our players this year to get games in," Roy said. "Difficult for guys like myself and Mike to build relationships and see games - other than on video, which doesn't tell you the whole story of a player's game. It'll paint a picture, but it doesn't tell you the whole story."
While Roy waits for the chance to visit prospects in their home rinks, he's happy to chat with them in any way possible.
He also feels that this format of development camp puts the prospects - especially the newer ones - in a comfortable position as they get to know their new teammates.
"Players are in an environment where they're in their own home. They're not sitting in a classroom or amongst a bunch of people," said Roy. "I try to encourage players to ask questions. Maybe you do get to see a little more of that personality in a setting like this."